140 F. G. YOUNG. The value of real estate and personal property during this decade increased five-fold. Only in Iowa, California, Texas and Wisconsin had there been a larger percentage of in- crease. 16 The production of wheat, flour, live stock and wool had increased proportionately with the population. 17 Other manufactures than lumber and flour on any considerable scale were yet to appear. 18 Unimproved highways, with ferries for crossing the streams and the rivers, were the main reliance for transportation. 19 But the steamboat largely dis- placed the sloop and the flatboat on the one and the stage- coach and pack-train the universal horseback travel on the other. 20 Only 3.8 miles of railroad at the Cascade transit around the rapids in the Columbia gorge had been built. 21 No Oregon banks are listed in the United States census returns of I860. 22 The decade opened with strongly stimulating conditions for Oregon industry in the circumstance of a large and rapidly growing mining community in California largely dependent upon the Oregon community for its foodstuffs and lumber supplies. There was also the additional influence due to the importation of a large volume of money material by the Ore- gonians returning from these mines. 23 Before the middle of 16 The value of real estate and personal property was as follows: In 1850, $5,063,474; in 1860, $28,930,637. 17 The fruit industry, especially with apples, developed rapidly during this decade, under the stimulus of fabulous prices received in California. Bancroft's Oregon, Vol. II, pp. 257-8. 18 The beginnings of woolen mills are to be found at Albany, Salem and Oregon City from the middle of the decade on. Op. cit., p. 338. 19 The first considerable bridge was built across the Yamhill river at Lafayette in 1851. Oregon Statesman, September 23, 1851. 20 An abortive effort was made to establish telegraphic communication with California about the middle of this decade. Bancroft's Oregon, Vol. II, p. 339. 21 Preliminary Report on the Eighth Census, p. 229. 22 See prohibitions put upon the powers of the Legislative Assembly of Oregon regarding the chartering of banks in the Organic Act. The ordinary commercial functions of banking were carried on by both home and foreign concerns. 23 Governor Lane in his first message to the legislature estimates that upwards $2,000,000 had been brought the first year from California to Oregon by returning miners. Executive Record MS.
